Blended Yarns for Dummies

LET'S MIX IT UP

Can you rattle off everything there is to know about your favorite fabrics and yarns with your eyes closed? Let’s see...

• Merino wool is warm and strong; it freshens up completely after hanging out in the open air for an hour. Check!

• Mohair is light and fluffy; hand-wash it at a low temperature and lay it flat to dry. Check!

• Polyamide and other synthetic fibers are virtually indestructible; they can handle higher wash temperatures and come out of the spin cycle in tip-top shape. Check!

But *@#$%^& do you do with mixed-fiber garments? Who even thought that was a good idea? And why, exactly?

MOTHER NATURE

There are textile purists who swear by 100% natural fabrics and yarns. Honest, pure, untouched by human hands—exactly as Mother Nature intended. But they forget that Mother Nature didn’t invent the cotton plant for the textile industry.

That’s why some properties of natural raw materials—no matter how “natural” and authentic they may be—aren’t quite as convenient for us as consumers. There are plenty of examples: the fact that wool pills doesn’t matter to a sheep, natural cut is always bon ton. That cotton doesn’t stretch at all and that linen wrinkles?No plant loses any sleep over that :-).

DEMANDING, ARE WE?

We have quite a few requirements that our clothes must meet. Besides being absolutely gorgeous and incredibly comfortable to wear? Here are a few points that are so obvious you might not even think of them yourself.

• It has to be soft
• Mustn’t fade
• A little stretch would be nice
• Shouldn’t pill, or only very slightly
• Mustn’t lose its shape
• Easy to care for
• Must not shrink
• Must dry quickly

More than you thought? And we could have kept going for a while longer… Finally, we get to the heart of the matter: how do we adapt the properties of textiles to our needs? Simple: by mixing the base material with one or

more raw materials with completely different properties.

Ladies & gentlemen: we have a blend!

Here’s a list of the most common ingredients for you…

POLYAMIDES

Polyamide is a synthetic, man-made fiber made from fossil fuels. It doesn’t sound sexy, and it isn’t sexy. But: polyamide is incredibly strong! When added to wool, it improves the fabric’s “tensile strength,” allowing you to knit with thinner and more loosely spun yarns without the garment becoming baggy or sagging. 

A wool blend pills less easily, dries faster after washing, keeps its color longer, and your garment lasts longer. Aside from the environmentally unfriendly downside: it’s a win-win squared.

RECYCLABLE

Polyester is also a synthetic,man-madefiber, primarily used to make natural fibers stronger and more colorfast. This “sister fiber to polyamide” is less durable (in terms of lifespan), less elastic, and therefore also slightly less expensive than polyamide. Plus: it’s highly recyclable.Recycled polyester is also commonly used in textiles these days and can be reused endlessly.

ACRYL?

Acrylic is a common abbreviation forpolyacrylic. Colloquially, it’s not very popular—though this is unfair. This synthetic,man-madefiber is made from fossil fuels. Acrylic is soft, lightweight, insulating (warm), and washable at higher temperatures than wool, for example. In a well-balanced wool blend, it enhances the fine qualities of wool, while visually you don’t even really notice the difference. 100% acrylic, on the other hand, can’t hold a candle to wool in terms of look and feel. And it often makes you “crackle” when you move. Ultimately, it’sall about findingthe right mix.

STRETCHY

Elasthane is also known aselastane, spandex, or(brand name)Lycra. It is an advanced form of polyester that is extremely stretchy. When added to textiles, it makes the fabric (or knitting yarn) stretchy. Not only does this feel comfortable, but it also ensures that your garment retains its shape.

There was a time when spandex hadn't been invented yet. Back then, according to LEVIS, we had to sit in the bathtub to get our pants to fit nice and tight. Do you remember that commercial?

BLENDING

There are actually quite a few advantages to blending yarns. Because 100% isn’t always the answer.

• Are you always cold and can’t make it through winter without chunky sweaters and cardigans? Thanks to smart blends, you don’t have to lug around extra weight.
• Crazy about bold colors? A dash of polyamide in the blend makes your happy colors pop even more.
• Do you love wool with all your heart, but can’t your wallet keep up with your taste? A blend with acrylic is usually more affordable than the full-on wool. You still get that coveted look and feel—without having to break the bank.
• Looking for a nice women’s wool suit? It’s handy if it has at least a little polyester in it… that way, the crease will at least hold.

BUT WHAT ABOUT WASHING?

Don’t worry—the manufacturers of these blends have already figured it all out for you down to the last detail. All you have to do is read the care label and follow the instructions carefully. But you were already doing that, right? ;-)

* Ready for—or in the mood for—some serious wardrobe upgrades? There are plenty of new favorites waiting for you in the shop, from 100% merino wool sweaters and cardigans to fluffy blends with mohair.

Love, Nicole & Ilse